The Bicycling World, Vol 53, No 26
Articles in this issue
- Patent Commissioner Allen rules on Robinson's appeal in the long-running Townsend vs. Copeland vs. Robinson coaster-brake interference, which stands for the New Departure, Pope and Morrow interests, affirming the refusal to transmit his first motion to amend but reversing as to the second.
- L. H. Bill, of L. H. & B. I. Bill, San Francisco manufacturers' agents, reports counter sales of Kokomo tires, Solar lamps and Diamond chains of $4,300 and $5,000 in the dull months of July and August against a previous ceiling of $3,000, insurance settlement and rebuilding money having lifted the whole Pacific coast trade.
- The Buffalo Metal Goods Co., which manufactures the Atherton coaster brake, was incorporated this week under New York laws with $10,000 capital; F. C. Atherton, S. McDougall and W. F. Emerson are named as the corporators.
- The Cycle Manufacturers' Association met at the Cadillac Hotel, Detroit, on 19 September with Fred I. Johnson in the chair, engaged H. W. Porter of Toledo to direct its Publicity Bureau in place of Frank A. Egan, and transferred The George N. Pierce Company's membership to the Pierce Cycle Company.
- A. C. Mount, of Elizabeth, N. J., has devised an adjustable fibre idler wheel running on ball bearings with a swivel-mounted support, clampable anywhere along the lower rear fork to take up driving-chain slack; it is being marketed by F. A. Baker & Co., of New York.
- Counsel to country dealers on refusing to cash strangers' checks below a fixed reserve of change - one small-village dealer never dared get below $50 - since a customer's convenience outranks a stranger's accommodation.
- The New Patent Cycle Ambulance Company, of Manchester, is exploiting tandem and "sociable" ambulances propelled by leg or motor power: a pair of coupled bicycles carrying a tubular-framed canvas cot under a baby-carriage hood, with only the attendant permitted to steer.
- Explains, by analogy with a pneumatic tire inflator, why a gasolene motor heats more climbing a hill than at speed, and weighs three remedies - more power, less weight, or an alteration of gear ratio - coming down in favour of a simple two-speed gear at the motor or in the rear hub.
- Editorial urging makers to perfect sight-feed lubrication "oiled from the saddle," since present systems force the rider to dismount or resort to guesswork, and roadside waiting for an oil cup to fill leaves the public with an impression of constant tinkering.
- Editorial on salesmanship: the merchant who reads his customer's character and volunteers advice - not to twist a tire in applying it or pinch the inner tube, how to keep a lamp clean, kinks for the road and winter storage - earns a good will more lasting than the bargain counter.
- Henry Sturmey, quoted at length, argues whether a two-speed gear's alternate ratio should sit above or below the rider's accustomed fixed gear, favouring a raised normal for those who walk little hills, and dismisses gears giving only 10 or 15 per cent. difference in speed ratio as not worth carrying.
- Advises carrying a small squirt can of kerosene to inject through the spark plug opening to loosen oil "gummed" by the first touch of cold weather; gasolene will serve, though less desirably, if kerosene is not available.
- The Pope Mfg. Co. has altered its decision to prosecute work on its new model motor bicycle, which will not be marketed during 1907 because the Pope plants will be too rushed to give it the attention and "swing" it merits.
- Applying a "gaiter" or a few turns of tape where a tire's canvas has weakened and begun to bulge will prevent its extending and frequently save the entire cost of a new shoe.
- "Doc" Morton, of the Queen City Bicycle Club, won the half-mile, one mile and five mile Dominion championships at the Canadian Wheelmen's Association meet on the Toronto exhibition grounds, 9 September; D. Erzman of the Stratford B. C. took the novice and half-mile 1:25 class, and four men fell when W. Andrews crowded H. L. Young into the fence.
- National champion Frank L. Kramer, of East Orange, N. J., back from Salt Lake City some $2,100 richer, says he will take up pace-following now that professional sprint racing is finished at Vailsburg, and is booked for an exhibition ride there.
- Manager John M. Chapman has closed the Salt Palace saucer for the season and called off the postponed twenty-four hour race; since the track opened on 30 May fifteen world's records fell there, seven to Iver Lawson, two to A. J. Clarke, one to W. E. Samuelson and five to the amateur Jack Hume.
- The police commissioners of Atlanta, Ga., are seeking a couple of motor bicycles for the call department, so that officers answering long-distance "hurry calls" arrive promptly and not worn out by the exertion of getting there.
- George Mitchell, a New York stage carpenter, has built a 60-pound, eight-foot pedal-driven bicycle boat on three reversible wooden pontoons, its bevel gearing actuating a 10-inch three-bladed propeller; photographs show it, and an aluminium successor with a two or three horsepower air-cooled motor is planned for the Sportsmen's Exhibition.
- A Leeds cyclist who punctured outside Tadcaster was marched off to jail as a suspected deserter from the York garrison because he wore an old volunteer's military cape, and was released with nothing more than "Be off about your business."
- Twelve of 23 starters finished the Chicago Motorcycle Club's 292-mile two-day endurance run of 15-16 September with perfect scores, on Harley-Davidson, Yale-California, Armac, Curtiss, Landgraf, Indian, Torpedo and Merkel machines; Dr. S. W. Fahrney ran the contest and G. H. Lovell was "gathered in" at Humboldt Park for overspeeding.
- San Jose, Cal., capitalists are considering a roofed, electrically lit eight-lap bicycle track surrounding a skating rink on the successful Salt Lake City model, at a cost of about $9,000.
- E. W. Carritt, vice-president of the Brooklyn Motorcycle Club, will have charge of the motorcycle patrol and telephone service for the Vanderbilt cup eliminating trials and the race itself on 6 October, with T. K. Hastings of the F. A. M. handling the courier service.
- Professionals barred from Vailsburg stationed themselves outside the gates announcing "No pro races to-day!" but 5,000 turned out anyway; Charles A. Sherwood of the New York A. C. won the one-third mile championship to lead with 12 points, and Elmer J. Collins lost a twenty-mile motorpaced match to James F. Moran only after his rear tire popped at 17 1/2 miles.
- Cycle camping was dropped from this year's "Wheel About the Hub" after the owner of the Massapoag, Mass., field asked a "St. Regis price"; nine motor cars carried M. M. Belding, J. S. Obermyer, W. B. Everett and Abbott Bassett, while "Papa" Weston walked up two hills on his 97-inch gear.
- "Woody" Hedspeth, the Germanized American negro who trains for Bader, won the scratch race at Munich on 2 September from Uhl and Shreiner, and ran fourth in a 100-kilometres paced race behind Dickentmann, Vanderstuyft and Centenet.